‌The Finance and Government Business Minister Jane Hutt (pictured) this week (Tuesday, September 22) announced, as part of a £46m capital investment package, that £2.7 million will be invested in Airbus and Aerospace training facilities for high level training and on-going support for aerospace manufacturing.

The joint project, between Swansea University’s College of Engineering and Coleg Cambria, will see a new HE Aero Engineering Centre open at Coleg Cambria’s Deeside site with dedicated connectivity to our new Bay Campus Engineering Quarter. The facilities established at both institutions will train up to 75 Airbus apprentices and aerospace employees per year once fully operational.

Professor Richard B Davies, Vice-Chancellor of Swansea University, said: “We are delighted that the Welsh Government has chosen to invest in this joint project with Coleg Cambria, one of the UK’s leading FE colleges, and a college which has exemplary links with local industry.  

“Swansea University’s College of Engineering is one of the UK’s top 10 and this investment recognises the superb work that is being carried in the fields of manufacturing and materials research here.

“The University already has an established and expanding partnership with Coleg Cambria, which has built up an excellent relationship with locally-based aerospace and engineering firms over many years.

“This investment will enable connectivity between Swansea’s new Science and Innovation Bay Campus Engineering Quarter and a new HE Centre in Coleg Cambria, and will provide research-led training to support the local aerospace and manufacturing industry.  It will also open up the research expertise and the facilities located on our new Bay Campus to engineering businesses in North Wales.

“We look forward to working with Coleg Cambria to deliver high-quality training, growing a skilled aerospace workforce, and generating economic growth.”